Windows 98 License...

[Bob The Great]

I need to buy a new copy of windows, and I'm kinda alarmed at windows prices. At first I was going to buy it at EBAY (about $60). But I remeber seeing a web site that sold just the license for it. No software or box or anything, and it cost about $20. Is my memory right? Can I buy it this way? If so were?

Thanks! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[Bob The Great]

Please help! I need to go soon!
Thanks!

[araaraara]

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[This message has been edited by araaraara (edited 05-06-2001).]

[the1truescott]

You cant sell Windows licenses if they have been registered to a machine AT ANY TIME without selling the system aswell.

This is because the license is specific to the machine, NOT THE USER.

[Steve R Jones]

Guys, be carefull. This post is "probably" against the rules of the board:

"i) Upload or transmit any Material that infringes any patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright or other proprietary rights of any party"

[RenaissanceMan]

If memory serves:... when you purchace a software product, for example a boxed windows98 package and install the program, and agree to the license, what this does is give you the "right" to use it. you don't actually "own" the software, you "own" the licence to use it on that machine.
http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[randy48]

Go to http://www.directdeals.com they sell the licenses only

[madfish]

how does this work? you buy just the license and key code and then what? does the key code work with any cd? like you buy a license and key code for 95b. does this mean that the key code will work with any win. 95b cd? Cheers!

[socalgal]

I need more information regarding the legality of Bob the Great's question.

As to araaraara: Are you the legal owner of your school's software license/s? I highly doubt it. What you are offering is illegal and outright theft from your school and you have no right to offer same. Why don't you ask your school's IT/MIS department how they feel about your proposal?

You are setting up your school for criminal prosecution and penalties, and trouble for yourself. Do NOT offer stolen software licensing in these forums!

You know, or should know, the SysOpt policy by now. Do not offer such a proposal again at any time in these forums.

http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/samguide/benefits/

[This message has been edited by socalgal (edited 05-05-2001).]

[Philip1952]

randy48 thanks for the web link. I was looking for a full version. I didn't know you could buy just the licenses. I'll just do that with my next computer for my kid.
Thanks agin

[Richard_Cranium72]

I would be cautious buying just the "License"

If your plans are to use just one CD to install on multiple machines, then this is a violation of Microsofts EULA (End User License Agreement)

For the paltry sum that Win98 can be purchased for,, I suggest doing just that.

It seems as if Microosoft has friends in the FBI , I'm sure you don't want to meet any of them..

DrVette

[Bob The Great]

Thanks for the responces!

What I need to do is put a copy on another machine of mine. I was hoping I could use my old windows cd, and a new license instead of buying the whole shabang! I thought it would save me some money.

Is that illegal? If not how does DirectDeals do it?

[This message has been edited by Bob The Great (edited 05-05-2001).]

[randy48]

OK, I was asked to assist, my interp. of Microsoft's lengthy and confusing EULA is, you must be a licensed owner of each MS product that is installed on each machine. I'm a MS OEM, I own/bought several copies of assorted MS Operating Systems. For each machine I build and load with a MS-OS, I must purchase a license pack whether it is a single license or a multi pack! Each license you purchase comes with a Certificate of Authenticity (COA), if it doesn't you do not have the right to use it and you were ripped off.

If Bob the Great has a copy of Win98 loaded on a machine with a legit COA, all he has to do to load it on another machine is purchase a full license pack with a COA.

This is what most major manufacturers and systems builders are doing these days (HP, Dell, Gateway, etc). If you buy a new machine with Win98, ME, W2K pre-loaded, 99% of the time, no CD unless it's an OEM restore! All you get is a "D" drive with a pre-install copy in case you need to reload and a certificate stick on the side or back of the case!

[socalgal]

Bob,

You should be able to read your OSs version of the Eula right from your machine - do a Find on your hdd for: eula.txt , or go to Start/Help and in the Index, type EULA.

More info:

http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/atrisk/faq/default.asp

[This message has been edited by socalgal (edited 05-05-2001).]

[Bob The Great]

I'm just to lazy to read the EULA. I don't think I even read through the first paragraph when I first go windows (Hope it doesn't say they own my soul or anything http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif!

What your saying though is that. I can buy the windows license as long as it comes with the COA!

Thanks allot! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[Bob The Great]

Sorry double post. I'm usuing a s....l....o....w library PC. lol

[This message has been edited by Bob The Great (edited 05-05-2001).]

[alondra]

well look at it this way. I know a fella that has a perfectly legal bought CD, the book with the code key, if he builds up a backup mach. for use in his house, not to sell, and he buys another win setup, or another licence, for the second machine, I think he is nuts. IMHO http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by alondra (edited 05-05-2001).]

[RalphArch]

Alondra - He wouldn't be nuts - he'd be doing the legally required thing to have a legitimate right to use the software on that homebuilt machine. The $52 license and Certificate is certainly a preferred way to go (note its not upgrade) as there may even be some question about buying an upgrade version of WinMe and using an old win 95 cd as basis; which was already basis for another machine.

Why doesn't he just go out and download a linux distro; then at least he's legal and still free.

[Goldwingnut]

What I'd like to know: Under what circumstances is the absence of a license going to be discovered?

Seems to me, if Law Enforcement types are in your house, snooping around in your computers, you got BIG troubles, probably of a felony nature.

That said, ponder this problem: You use mobile racks to multiboot. You have Win98 on one, with hardware profiles for two computers. Win2K Pro on another, with hardware profiles for 2 computers.

You can't boot from both at the same time, even if they are in the same computer. Each drive can only boot one computer at a time. It appears that this would satisfy the letter, if not the spirit, of the law.

Haven't tried that yet, but I'm considering it.

[This message has been edited by Goldwingnut (edited 05-05-2001).]

[BBA]

Goldwingnut...

Your funny http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

Your idea sounds good, but in reallity it will not work. I think you are misunderstanding what a hardware profile is.

A hardware profile is to allow some devices to be enabled in one profile, while the option to disable it exists in another profile...but if the machine is changed, the OS will re-identify and reload all machine resources each time the drive is swapped from one machine to another. The exception being that the resources of the two machines are identical.

As for legality, it would not matter...if MS checks, you have a machine with a Win9x license, running win9x, while at the same time you have a machine with a w2k license running W2K...so they would have no issue with that.

BTW: According to my MS rep...The license does not go with the machine, it goes to the buyer. It's funny, but with the new machines we have, they have a CAL sticker with the activation cd key on it for both NT4 OR W2K. BUT...you can dump that machine, keep the license and use it on a totally new machine with no legality issue at all.

You own the license...the machine does not.

[Warthog]

ditto alondra

I put the same copy of windows on multiple machines. Now, if I was running any sort of business or was in a school, I'd buy the copies....but $52 per comp for home use? nah....why? To be totally legal? geez...

I'm wondering how on earth they could catch an individual in this "illegal" act - same as Goldwing. Maybe the point is not too catch the people, but to deter others from doing what I (and thousands) do http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

Warthog

[Fingers]

I put the same copy of windows on multiple machines...

...I'm wondering how on earth they could catch an individual in this "illegal" act

Nothing like a confession to make it easy for the software police. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

BTW, according to alondra, I'm about half nuts http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[bdunn]

My understanding is that the media and the license are seperate entities. I work at a university and many of the recently ordered PCs come with a License and no media. OS pre-installed. I don't like it that way but its the new way.

[randy48]

Wart, how do they know? If you happen to find a new update at MS and just happen to update two or more machines at the same time, or you loaned your copy of Win to a friend and they are updating the same time as you...they got you! Each time you connect to "update", it sends your machines info, reg key, IP address, etc to MS (yes I do know the window pops up and says it doesn't) and that info is logged. Ol Bill has a crew that does nothing but monitor that ****!

[Warthog]

haha Fingers http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

I have never heard of someone being caught for this. I totally believe you guys, but it just seems so extremely rare that one would get caught...

Warthog

[captpete]

With regards to whether a consumer is in violation of the Microsoft EULA, a threshold question that has not been addressed in some time is whether the contract is legally enforceable. There is nothing absolutely sacred about a contract: some contracts are so one-sided as to be unconscionable and unenforceable for reasons of public policy. Such factors as whether the contract was negotiated at arms length; whether it is a take-it-or-leave-it contract; the equality of the negotiation positions of the parties; and whether some conditions of the contract offend the normal sensibilities of the public, to mention only a few factors, can be considered in determining whether it is enforceable. In the past, this issue has usually be resolved in favor of Microsoft with regards to their EULA; however, new compelling factors have been introduced that could completely change this past outcome, namely, the determination that Microsoft is a monopoly and has abused this position. Such a finding, when combined with the obvious offensive, heavy-handed one-sided nature of the contract could lead to a more favorable decision on behalf of consumers. Maybe it is about time this issue be revisited in the form of a class action consumer protection lawsuit to declare the Microsoft EULA unenforcible.

[Goldwingnut]

I recently installed software that had a label sealing the CD envelope shut.

The label read "User agrees to the terms of the license agreement by opening this seal". Something like that.

The license agreement was inside the envelope. I had to agree to it before I saw it. That may be unenforceable.

[crazyray]

I don't worry about anything...'ol Bill and I are friends... http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[Bob The Great]

Bill and you are friends? A Ray?!? Could I borrow a few thousand? lol

I just want to go about this the legal way. Even if it means shelling out the $120 for the full OEM (actually I would probably switch to Linux if It came to that).

[This message has been edited by Bob The Great (edited 05-09-2001).]

[Bsdboy]

Bob: try here: http://www.9software.com/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=6&cat=Licenses

Bsdboy